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Restoring a Masterpiece: The Renovation of the Eastman Theatre on WXXI-TV

Restoring a Masterpiece: The Renovation of the Eastman Theatre on WXXI-TV

Sun, 12/26/2010 - 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Don't miss this special encore broadcast of the two-part special that chronicles the renovation of the Eastman Theatre.

WXXI celebrates the holidays by offering our community the opportunity to take an inside look at the renovation of one of our cultural gems, the Eastman Theatre. A special encore broadcast of Restoring a Masterpiece: The Renovation of the Eastman Theatre and its new companion program, The Vision Realized, will be broadcast without interruption on Sunday, December 26 at 5 p.m. and Saturday, January 1 at 10:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV/HD (DT21.1/cable 1011 and 11). It will also air on WXXI-WORLD (DT21.2/cable 524) on Tuesday, January 11 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, January 29 at 7:30 p.m.

“We are proud to have captured this extraordinary undertaking on video and we are pleased to be able to share it with our community and nation,” said WXXI President Norm Silverstein. More than 70 public television stations throughout the country have committed to airing the program, a number that continues to grow.

Produced by WXXI and Eastman School of Music and narrated by Rochester native, actor and director Philip Seymour Hoffman, Restoring a Masterpiece: The Renovation of the Eastman Theatre showcases the intricate renovation of a building that is itself a work of art. At the same time, it tells the story of the intertwined histories of the Eastman School of Music and the RPO, and demonstrates how a building can play a key role in the restoration of an historic downtown.

The Vision Realized, which airs immediately following The Renovation of the Eastman Theatre, highlights the completion of the new Wolk Atrium and Hatch Recital Hall, and the installation of the Blue and Gold Chandelier, a light reflecting glass sculpture commissioned for the atrium by world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly.

The Vision Realized pays tribute to George Eastman's original vision for the school and theater space, a vision that has come full-circle with the renovation and additions. Rochester’s Eastman Theatre was built as a silent movie theatre in the years just before “talkies” changed the entire movie going experience. Yet “The Eastman,” as it is known locally, fulfilled a vision to be a center for arts and culture for the City of Rochester. It became home to a prominent music school and philharmonic orchestra. It launched careers, hosted stars, and stood the test of time. With its major renovation completed, the new Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre is poised to be a jewel in the crown of a new downtown Rochester.

Restoring a Masterpiece: The Renovation of the Eastman Theatre was made possible by support from The Pike Company, PAETEC, Louise Epstein, Keith & Betsy Wilson, and the members of WXXI.